SCOIL NAOMH IOSEF
School Details
About
Scoil Naomh Iosef is a co‑educational primary school in Bouleenshere, Ballyheigue, County Kerry, operating under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Kerry. The school’s ethos centres on “Foghlaim Agus Fás” – Learn and Grow – and it seeks to nurture each child’s individuality through a balanced programme of academic learning, creative arts, and physical education. Class sizes are kept small (pupil‑teacher ratio < 18:1) to allow personalised attention and to foster a supportive, respectful environment where mistakes are viewed as opportunities for growth. A distinctive feature of the school is its strong emphasis on creativity and the arts. Students regularly engage in drama productions, with recent musical performances such as *Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat*, *Grease* and *The Sound of Music*. The school also runs a well‑established filmmaking programme that has earned national and international awards, with student films broadcast on RTÉ’s After School Hub. Physical education is broadened by visiting football and hurling coaches and annual swimming lessons at a local pool, complemented by a school garden that supports experiential learning. The curriculum is underpinned by a commitment to inclusive education, with two mainstream class teachers, a full‑time Special Education Teacher and a shared Special Education Teacher. This structure, together with a vibrant Parents Council and Board of Management, ensures that the school remains closely linked to the parish community while providing a safe, happy setting for children to explore, experiment and develop a lifelong love of learning.
History
Scoil Naomh Iosef opened in 1963 as a boys‑only national school. In 1969 the school was extended and became a mixed (co‑educational) primary school. Since then it has operated as an integral part of the local parish, under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Kerry, and has evolved to include a broad range of creative, sporting and special‑education provisions.